Reservoir track meets Windfarm track eventually meets hill..... Carleatherarn

Hill: Carleatherarn (The fort by the swamp)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 485m

Carleatherarn had been on my to-do list for a year or so but today it was chosen more as a guide to fitness for higher and longer rambles.

About 3 weeks ago I had severely strained my right medial calf muscle and boy did it hurt. I found that I could cycle with medium pain but walking any distance was a no no without severe pain and that muscle tightening again.

In a few days I had a planned long distance ramble that I needed to know whether I had any chance of completion or whether to pull out.

There are two options for this hill basically from the north with the possibility of cattle, a short steep ascent followed by bog and peat at the higher levels heading for the summit. Or from the south with a longer ramble but mainly along hard picked water board and wind farm tracks.

I needed to test that leg muscle endurance so the south option was chosen.

To get there involved a final section of single track roads that rivalled anything the highlands has to offer. Beautiful countryside by the way when I had the chance to look sideways instead of praying that I wasn't meeting anything coming my way.

Surprised at how much water coming down the falls but reservoir controlled and they might have been releasing water

I didn't meet any traffic and reached the start at the Earl’s Burn waterfall. So much for avoiding the coos who were on the grass near the start but the herd were happy sitting chewing the cud and ignored me.

Just knew a wee stone or three would get into my boots

The track up to Earlsburn Reservoir 1 was hard going on a stony hard packed surface. Calf muscle was already complaining and I wondered how far I would get.

Not sure but think it might be juvenile Stonechat, saw adult pair on the way back

I had considered cycling the two reservoirs but a locked gate at the fishing club would have scuppered that. When they spotted me the barnacle geese headed out to the centre of the reservoir.

The track was still hard on the feet until I reached reservoir 2 and a short section on rough wet/boggy ground where it was not hard on the feet but on my achilles.

Carleatherarn to the right of the turbine

So I opted to change my planned route and headed up to to the nearest visible turbine (No6 as it turned out).

This detour meant a longer walk on the hard packed wind farm roads.

Windfarm ramble

Weather good, birds singing, calf sore & tight but not worsened, life could be harder.

A solo cyclist broke my solitude but that changed big style when a convoy of 5 vehicles came roaring up from behind creating a dust storm.

Looks dilapidated but that's often deliberate to reduce curious walkers taking a peek.

I had a brief chat with them, all the workers had English accents, so much for these unsightly utilities creating local employment. Then continuing up the track to meet the grouse butts. I was surprised at how many there were over the landscape. They were well kept but despite their numbers I neither spotted nor heard any grouse.

Fine stone mound

Seen better here

A rough track led to the huge ancient cairn and trig of Carleatherarn. This is the highest point on the Gargunnock Hills but is also included within the Campsie Fells region. No surprise that this was a valued hill, the views were superb all round. It is said 100 miles plus on a clear air day. 

View back to the reservoirs

Sub2k of Stronend highest point on the left

Today was mot such a day but still the Firth of Forth was glittering in the distance. I was on mainly paths bit looking around it is easy to see how the hill got its name.

Earl's Seat right of pylon

Back to real walking

I was pleased that my calf had got this far but it was far from normal and I had a couple of hours walking back on the same terrain.

Common Sandpiper

Stonechat (m)

As such I simply backtracked with the highlight being spotting a Common Sandpiper. Walked back to the car in a much hotter temperature than the ascent. With 2 reservoirs and a burn plenty of opportunities to top up the water. 

The final stone section after the last dam was difficult for me but although it was throbbing I was glad the calf had passed the first test, so long as it doesn't tighten up overnight.

Another ramble in a new part of the country so all good.

Ascent: 293m

Distance: 14.8km

Time: 3.35

Wildlife: Skylark; Meadow Pipit; Red Kite; Raven; Carrion Crow; Common Sandpiper; Stonechat; Barnacle geese; Pied Wagtail; Wood pigeon, Curlew; Chaffinch, Swallow; House Martin;

Cort-ma Law

Hill: Cort-ma Law

Type: N/a (outlier of Meikle Bin)

Height: 531m

This hill on its own is a gentle winter ramble in the Campsie Fells. I had never walked it before so that was an attraction. Plus I got to visit the place that I was born, after all these years a first for me.

We started the walk from the pretty Clachan of Campsie which gave us a steep pull to the Crow Road carpark where most walkers start from. Added more ascent to a short day.

After that a well worn track heads up onto the moors. Some views over Lennoxtown and further but soon we were in the clag and to remain so for all the high section of the ramble. Wet boogy ground and nae views. Not an easy place to navigate as few markers around here. 

Finally the cairn of Cort-ma Law was reached and it was freezing cold. Sadly the terrific views not on show today. Glad to descend and get some views again particularly over towards Kirkintilloch and Glasgow beyond. Over farming land to the cycle track back to the start.

Despite the gloom up top it was a good ramble.

Clachan of Campsie tearoom

Dont take the scar beside the trees thats for MTB's downhilling rapido

Normal start from Crow Road

Track on left of gully eventually reaches Meikle Bin

Lennoxtown

Cort-ma Law top appears

Looking back to Cort-ma Law there are 3 cairns dotted around the moor

Green fields out of the clag

Still cold all hoods still up

1st Snowdrops of the year for me.

Ascent: 520m

Distance: 14.6km

Time: 4.49

Wildlife: Carrion Crow

A Campsie hills ramble.....Earls Seat

Hill: Earls Seat

Category: Sub2k

Height: 578m

I have had a inflamed achilles for a while so changed my plans at the last minute and opted for another new Sub2k, Earls Seat. The ascent is about the same but the walk shorter. Ibuprofen digested and headed off.

Set off early and just arrived in time to get a parking spot. There is limited parking across the road from the Glengoyne Distillery not helped by an articulated lorry taking up most of the area. Headed back south to another slot where I managed to squeeze in, the parked up big Audi obviously wanted the slot for just them, pillock.

From here just cut across the grass over a small stile and follow the track up to the pine trees, over a couple more styles and the steep flanks of Dumgoyne are ahead.

Eroded track visible on Dumgoyne

There are a couple of options at the start both of which meet up to become the main path further up, your choice left or right.

The coos have been around so some boggy patches before a more eroded but fine path is reached (never did see the coos).

Looking back narrow track

About two thirds of the way up the track contours right then curves back round to make it an easier ascent to the summit.

An overweight couple appear descending, I reckon these are the Audi owners so don't talk to them lol!

The views are excellent from this volcanic plug albeit the very low clouds are hiding the big mountain tops, where are you Ben Lomond?

View ahead from Dumgoyne

The immediate grassy route ahead is obvious but no sign of Earls Seat yet, hidden away.

The very steep eroded slopes off Dumgoyne are far and away the hardest part of the walk, great care required, a slip could lead to a big roll and do some damage.

There are a few tracks merging but the main track is obvious. As we slowly go up the first section a hill runner sprints past, we look suitably impressed.

Open moor Earls Seat centre left

There are a few false tops and the track does rise and fall to the small cairn of Garloch Hill. From here over on your right is Clachertyfarlie Knowes, who makes up these names?

Away in the distance and over to the right Earl's Seat is finally in view. Not a hill as such but the high point of the moor on the Campsie Hills. The runner is spotted already on the ridge near the top, blimey. Ominous big black clouds are coming over lots of juice in them I suspect.

Trig looking NE

The track is fairly wet and boggy on this last stretch before we have to climb a fence to reach the trig point which at least is on this side as the fence behind it is barbed.

Luss Hills clearer in light than camera

At last the clouds are lifting enough so the views have improved. The Luss hills and its horseshoe show particularly well across Loch Lomond and the islands. Ben Lomond finally clear and behind it peaks are popping up everywhere as far as The Lawers range. To the east the Pentlands can just be seen in the distance, still cloudy in Edinburgh but close by a strange looking object on Dunmore catches the eye, large cairn, a metallic ball structure on top! Could not see it clearly enough. Checked the map, there is an old fort showing but nothing else, odd one. Not clear air viewing but good enough for today. After lunch we decided to retrace our steps to keep the views in sight for as long as possible.

This way also avoided the large peat hags which could be messy today.

Dumgoyne on the descent

The plug of Dumgoyne looks more picturesque on the descent. The conurbation of Glasgow and the Clyde sprawling out on the left.

Decided not to go back up Dumgoyne but skirted round it to meet up with outward track, lazy.

Weather not as good as was predicted last night but at least the clouds lifted and it did not rain. A few people around but not as many as I feared and at least 4 hill runners, that sport is gaining in popularity.

Wildlife: Raven; Pheasant; Meadow Pipit; Ringlet butterfly and a pure white moth no idea what kind.

Time: 4.28

Ascent: 818m

Distance: 11.0km